THE PSL trophy will either lay the foundation for another dynasty or awaken a sleeping giant. It all depends on where the most prized trophy in South African football will call home from May 11 – Chloorkop or Orlando.

The Kings of SA football will be crowned tomorrow as the Mamelodi Sundowns’ battle with Orlando Pirates stretches to the last day of the league season.

Sundowns are in the driver’s seat as a win over Free State Stars at Goble Park will see them retain the championship. The Buccaneers on the other hand have to beat Polokwane City and hope that the Brazilians don’t win in Bethlehem.

The league title will mean more to the victorious club than adding a piece of silverware in their trophy cabinet and a big pay-day for their players.

For Sundowns, this could lay the foundation for another dynasty and for the Buccaneers, it could awaken a sleeping giant that hasn’t won anything since 2014.

It’s quite fitting that the two teams who fought for the championship last season and represented SA in the CAF Champions League are at it again.

Pitso Mosimane pipped Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic in the title race last season. A repeat of that this season would see “Jingles” retain the league crown for the first time in his stint at Sundowns.

“I don’t want to be emotional (about retaining the league),” Mosimane said. “I am not chasing the story of back-to-back, because if you chase such stories you aren’t seeing the full picture.

“Numbers don’t lie, but they don’t tell everything. Don’t think too much about yourself. It’s like people who have degrees who put all their accomplishments on the wall in their houses and offices. But what have you contributed to people’s lives?

“I am not worried about how many Cups I have won so that I can display them. I am only focused on the next game. That’s what drives me. I am not chasing back-to-back league titles.”

Mosimane might not be chasing back-to-back championships, but his players want the league crown to end what has been a hectic season. Sundowns need the championship to wash away their Champions League disappointment.

Pirates need the league title to wash away the disappointment of going almost five years without a trophy. Sredojevic has injected renewed energy in the Sea Robbers who he found drowning after a disastrous 2016/17 season.

Sredojevic described this as “a marvellous season”, even though Pirates could finish empty-handed. The beautiful football the Buccaneers have played has entertained and delighted their fans. But that won’t be enough for Pirates.

Kosta Papic’s team also played beautiful football and had nothing to show for it in his spell. Sredojevic won’t want to fall into that bracket. The Ghost won’t want a repeat of that, which is why Pirates need a trophy.